The University of North Carolina Tarheels may be the 2017 NCAA basketball tournament champions, but the Envy apple took home the 2017 Apple Madness “chomp-ionship.”Beating out Honeycrisp in the final contest, the Envy was the winner of the U.S. Apple Association-sponsored tournament pitting 32 apple varieties in a five-round online competition, according to a news release.
More than 31,000 consumers voted for their favorite apple variety during the event, a 20% increase from last year’s inaugural tournament, according to the release.
“We love the opportunity to merge March’s National Nutrition Month and bracket fever with this campaign,” Korenna Wilson, director of consumer health and public relations at the apple association, said in the release.
“It was fun to see apple fans’ passion for their favorite varieties play out on social media. Congrats to Envy!”
The contest shared apple facts, recipe ideas and health research data with millions of consumers on social media, according to the release.
“We are incredibly excited that consumers picked Envy, proving Envy’s truly exceptional widespread appeal,” David Nelley, vice president of categories at Oppy, which manages production and sales of Envy Apples in the U.S.
“Envy is selling extremely well in the U.S., and being voted champion in this fun competition is truly awesome for the consumers who enjoy Envy apple and for our passionate growers,” Joe Barsi, president of North America for T&G Global, said in the release. T&G manages the Envy apple global marketing efforts.
Apple Madness began in February at USApple.org/AppleMadness with a prediction period encouraging individuals to fill out their Apple Madness bracket for a chance to win a three-month supply of apples.
Throughout the event voters entered to win apple-related prizes from members including Borton Fruit, Chelan Fresh, Domex Superfresh Growers, the Michigan Apple Committee, New York Apple Association, New York Apple Sales, Oppy, Rainier Fruit Co., Red Jacket Orchards, Ridgetop Orchards, Riveridge Produce Marketing, Sage Fruit Co/ and Washington Apple Commission.